Harness frame for looms

ABSTRACT

An improved harness frame for looms having cushioning devices for suppressing the oscillating movement of the multiplicity of heddles supported therein to prevent the high frequency impact noise created by the heddles when harnesses are caused to move between their alternate shed positions.

[ July 22, 1975 United States Patent [191 Sujdak et al.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventors: Thomas J. Sujdak, Webster;

Douglas W. Anderson, Westboro, 2,46l,496 Kaufmann............................. 139/92 both Of Mass. 9/1950 Kaufmann............................. 139/92 [73] Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation, Pnmar-v ExammerHemy Jaudon Pittsburgh, Pa.

[ ABSTRACT An improved harness frame for looms having cushioning devices for suppressing the oscillating movement [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1974 of the multiplicity of heddles supported therein to prevent the high frequency impact noise created by the heddles when harnesses are caused to move between their alternate shed positions.

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BACKGROUND OF' THE INVENTION I configuration. A pair of heddle bars assemble within each frame and are normally supported at their ends in aligned apertures provided in the stiles. In assembled position a heddle bar extends parallel with and spaced from both of the rail membersand serve to loosely support the ends of a multiplicity of heddles which extend between said heddle bars in a manner'well-known in the weaving art. l

A plurality of harness frames are normally utilized in v each loom and dependingupen the desired weave construction of the particular fabric to be formed, the

number of harness frames will vary accordingly.

During operation of a loom, the harness frames are reciprocated in a generally vertical. direction between so-called alternate shed po sitions. The rapidmovement of a harness frame between these alternate shed positions in combination with the clearanceon each end of a heddle, where it assembles to itsrespective heddle bar, sets up a high frequency impact noise, the level of which dependson the numberof harnessframes in a particular loom. A l l ,1

With regard to the current interest of improving the environmental working conditions in the vicinity of production machinery by reducing the operating output noise level of such machinery, the present invention provides a means for eliminating the high frequency impact noise produced by the heddles during operation of a loom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved harness frame comprising the invention includes elongated rigid members fixed by any suitable means to the opposed sides of each rail member. These rigid members extend along the longitudinal length of each rail member and have attached on those surfaces adjacent the heddle bars with an elongated resilient member having a configuration which conforms generally to its respective rigid members. That side of each resilient member oppositethat surface which attaches to its respective rigid member is disposed in con tiguous relation with the ends of the heddles supported on the heddle bar adjacent thereto. Contact between 'the resilient members and the ends of heddles during the shedding motion of the harness frames and eliminates the high frequency impact noise normally caused by this movement.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved harness frame that will eliminate a portion of a looms operating noise.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved harness frame for looms Y which will suppress the reciprocating movement of the [heddles duringshedding and eliminate the high frequency noise created by the heddles during such move- These and other objects of the present invention will i become more fully apparent by reference to the appended claims and as the following detailed description proceeds in reference to the figures of drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a harness frame showing the means for suppressing oscillatingv movement of the heddles according to the invention applied thereto; I

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen looking -in the direction of the indicating arrows of line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another form of harness frame to which the invention is applicable; i v

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2. showing still another form of harness frame to which the invention is applicable; and I j FIG. 5 is a perspective view in exploded form show} ing the means by which the members for suppressing movement of the heddles are attached to the rail .members of a harness frame. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I As the general construction and operation of the harness shedding motion fora loom, is known and familiar to those conversant in the art and as the invention is en tirely concerned with an improved harness frame for use in such an apparatus, it is only considered necessary here to illustrate and describe those elements which are associated with a preferred form of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a loom harness frame generally indicated by numeral 10 is shown and includes the usual upper and lower rail members 11 and 12 which are interconnected at their ends, by any preferred means, with stiles l3 and 14 respectively. These stile members 13 and 14 are usually provided with aligned openings (not shown) which are adopted to support the ends of so-called heddle bars 15 and 16. As shown in FIG. 1 heddle bar 15 is disposed so as to extend parallel with and slightly spaced from the lower surface of the upper rail member 11. Heddle bar 16 extends parallel with the lower rail member 12 and is slightly spaced from the latters upper surface. To prevent lateral flexing of the heddle bars 15 and 16 relative to the rail member adjacent thereto they are interconnected with the latter by spaced guide brackets with those for heddle bar 15 being identified by numeral 17 and those for heddle bar 16 by numeral 18.

Referring to FIG. 1, a multiplicity of heddles 19 having end portions of C-shaped configuration are disposed to extend between the heddle bars 15 and 16 with said end portions being assembled on the latter as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the various components which make up the harness frame that are comparable to those parts shown in FIG. 2 are identified by like numerals with the addition of a prime for those in FIG. 3

and with a double prime for those in FIG. 4.

The cushioning devices according to the invention include a plurality of elongated rigid members that are illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 as wood strips 20 which assemble to the opposed sides of the rail members 11 and 12 by means of plate members 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 5 these plate members are provided with aligned apertures 23 and 24 respectively and assemble on each side of a rail member by means of rivets 25 or the like. These plate members extend beyond the opposed sides of the rail members 11 and 12 a sufficient distance whereby one of the rivets 25 is caused to pass through an aligned aperture 26 (FIG. 5) provided in the wood strip 20 which serves as the means of fixedly positioning said wood strips. A plurality of these wood strips are assembled on the opposed sides of each rail member 11 and 12 and extend a distance equal to the space intermediate the guide brackets 17 and 18 (FIG. 1).

Each of the wood strips 20 has fixed on that surface adjacent to the ends of the heddles 15, a resilient member 27 having a configuration conforming generally to that of said wood strip and is of a thickness which places one surface thereof in contiguous relation with the ends of the heddles 19.

To summarize the operation, a harness frame during the performance of its intended function is reciprocated in a generally vertical direction between upper and lower alternate shed positions. The rapid rate at which a harness is moved between its alternate shed positions coupled with the clearance at the point of assemble of the end portions of each heddle on its respective heddle bar causes the heddles to reciprocate vertically during such movement.

The resilient members 27 forming a part of the cushioning devices comprising the invention being disposed in contiguous relation with each end of the multiplicity of heddles carried in a harness frame has substantially reduced vertical movement of the heddles and has eliminated the high frequency impact noise created by such vertical reciprocation.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An improved harness frame for looms comprising:

a. an upper and lower rail member;

b. stile members interconnecting the ends of sai upper and lower rail members; 7 c. heddle bars supported by said stile members an disposed parallel with and adjacent the opposed sides of each said rail member for supporting a multiplicity of heddles therebetween; and

d. elongated rigid members extending parallel with an fixed to the opposed sides of said upper and lower rail members having a resilient member of conforming configuration attached to one surface of said rigid members for preventing oscillating movement of the heddles on said heddle bars during movement of the harness frame.

2. The improved harness frame according to claim 1 wherein said rigid member and resilient member attached thereto extend for the longitudinal extent of each said rail member with said resilient member having one surface thereof disposed in contiguous relation with the ends of the heddles. 

1. An improved harness frame for looms comprising: a. an upper and lower rail member; b. stile members interconnecting the ends of said upper and lower rail members; c. heddle bars supported by said stile members and disposed parallel with and adjacent the opposed sides of each said rail member for supporting a multiplicity of heddles therebetween; and d. elongated rigid members extending parallel with an fixed to the opposed sides of said upper and lower rail members having a resilient member of conforming configuration attached to one surface of said rigid members for preventing oscillating movement of the heddles on said heddle bars during movement of the harness frame.
 2. The improved harness frame according to claim 1 wherein said rigid member and resilient member attached thereto extend for the longitudinal extent of each said rail member with said resilient member having one surface thereof disposed in contiguous relation with the ends of the heddles. 